This does exactly what it says on the tin – it is an all out tribute to The King of Pop.
This performance doesn’t feel like a musical but there again, it doesn’t claim to be. It’s all of the best bits of Michael Jackson’s career in one places.
Michael Jackson has long been hailed as the “ultimate showman” and this high intensity performance sets out to justify that claim.
This performance is ablaze with lights and is bursting at the seams with energy.
From the early Jackson Five hits ABC and Rockin’ Robin, the greats keep coming from start to finish giving an almost nostalgic feel to the performance which carries you right the way through the progression of his music.
Not much can be said about the score. Jackson has a dazzling back catalogue to choose from and you can’t go far wrong. There is a welcome mix of lively numbers and slower ballads which worked well.
The final twenty minutes of the show culminates with a mesmerisig finale which consists of f Billie Jean, Thriller, Bad and Smooth Criminal.
It was a perfect crescendo that had the audience in raptures towards the end paired with inventive staging that wowed the audience.
The strongest aspect of this performance is by far the choreography and dancing. Its exhilarating, inventive and incorporates his most amount moves with a modern twist. Some moves are insanely complex and almost defy gravity.
The staging is clever and vibrant. It is supported by outstanding lightning and pyrotechnics to add some pizzazz.
There’s just one thing this performance lacks, for me, and that is a story. There are tonnes and tonnes of tunes but perhaps a break from the music and a shift towards a story would give a different tilt on Thriller. I can understand why they’ve left it out but I could also envisage the benefits of adding a story line.
This may not be the most moving piece of theatre to grace The Empire stage but it could well be one of the more entertaining. If you want some light hearted fun that will allow you to dance then night away, then Thriller is for you.